"Chemical Industry's Fight Against Poverty Project" Launched by İKMİB

The Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) is implementing an important project in the field of social responsibility with its 'Chemistry Sector's Fight Against Poverty Project', which aims to reach socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. The project, which encompasses individuals living in regions where economic inequality is acutely felt, such as Gaziosmanpaşa, Esenler, Esenyurt, Bağcılar, Sultanbeyli and Sultangazi, will also provide a solution to the chemistry sector's shortage of qualified personnel. Following HR analyses, initial workshop activities have begun in the project, which will last one year and will reach 100 people, at least 25 of whom will be women. İKMİB, which has undertaken important initiatives for the development of the chemistry sector and the increase of its exports, is solving the sector's qualified personnel problem through the Chemistry Sector's Fight Against Poverty Project by making 100 socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals professionally skilled.

It is aimed to broaden the scope of the project, which addresses a societal wound, and to continue it in the coming years.

Under the "Grant Program for Social Integration of Disadvantaged Groups and Development of Their Employability", conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the European Union and the Directorate of EU Financial Aid, the "Chemistry Sector's Fight Against Poverty Project" will provide vocational training to 100 people to be brought into the sector based on the results of HR needs analyses, and enable them to obtain certificates. Additionally, through a matching system to be created with a human resources portal, entry into the labour market will be facilitated. The project has gained momentum following HR analyses and workshop activities have commenced. The first workshop was held under the title "Chemistry Sector HR Overview". Within the scope of the "Chemistry Sector HR Overview Workshop", Istanbul Provincial Administration officials, poverty and social services specialists from project district municipalities, heads of public education centres, employees of social aid and solidarity foundations, officials from associations related to poverty and social assistance, teachers from technical and vocational high schools, sectoral association representatives and business owners came together and conducted a productive workshop. Among the workshop outputs, particularly noteworthy results were that course participants from rural areas experienced problems with participation and continuity. The fact that women in particular do not attend trainings opened within certain sectors due to social prejudices was also among the workshop outputs. It emerged that the sector's problems are particularly the adjustment of technical personnel to work, the insufficient number of technical vocational high schools, the need for support of technical high schools by sectoral associations, and the scarcity of certified labour. The workshop, which also emphasized the importance of occupational health and safety and vocational training, underlined the need for the private sector to play a more active role in vocational training. The Chemistry Sector's Fight Against Poverty Project will continue with a workshop on "Social Discrimination and Prejudice" to be held on 17 May 2017 at the Titanic Business Bayrampaşa Hotel. All companies operating in the chemistry sector are invited to the workshop.